Reckoning Read Online Free Page B

strength is improving. Good.” The Creator’s voice pierced through Seven’s calm thoughts. “But, how focused is your discipline?”
    Within seconds, a large boulder freed itself from the ground and accelerated toward Seven. He ducked and scrambled to his feet. Another boulder let loose and followed the first. Seven grabbed two of the poles still littering the ground and shoved the thick boulder from his path, splitting his pole in two.
    “Why use the pole? It limits you,” said the Creator, now appearing in the glade. “Use your mind. You need no other weapon.”
    Seven nodded. Another boulder flew across the glade and narrowly missed his shoulder.
    “Again.” The Creator raised his hands and unleashed a combination of rocks and small boulders at the young apprentice. They collided with Seven’s body and caused him to grunt with pain. “Focus,” the Creator said. More stones took flight.
    Seven steadied his footing and narrowed his focus. He dodged and spun away from the stones, pushing them aside with his thoughts. But for every rock he escaped, three more smashed into his body, riddling his skin with bruises.
    “Your mind betrays you. You are frustrated. Confused. Don’t give in to it. Don’t let it stop you. Use your confusion, the chaos. Harness the anger it represents.” The Creator barked more commands.
    Seven resisted. More rocks pelted his body. Pain smashed into his thoughts.
    “Don’t resist. You know what’s expected. You know what you must do.”
    Seven’s eyes rolled back and he opened his thoughts to his Master. Blackness followed as his mind gave in to his Master’s orders.
    Seven jumped and bent his body, avoiding the stony bullets. Panting, Seven took control of the stones with his own thoughts, and tossed them into the trees. He met his Master’s gaze with a look of both defiance and submission.
    “Better. You must learn to face any challenge without losing control of your feelings. Doubt has no place in your mind—doubt about your mission, your training. Doubt regarding the Order. Me. When you can control this, then you will be ready for the task ahead.” The Creator motioned for Seven to sit.
    Seven nodded. His muscles trembled as he plopped onto the grass. Memories swirled to life in his mind. Thoughts of the fire and the compound, as well as images of the girl who’d escaped. The pictures flooded forward and slowed. Seven noted every detail of the girl’s face: the depth of her golden eyes, the color of her tan complexion, and the angles of her cheekbones. He recalled her voice and her hesitation. The Assassin had been scared that night, unsure of her abilities.
    Why hadn’t I noticed that before?
    “You can defeat any opponent.”
    “Yes, Master.” Seven’s anger grew as he noticed every weakness and flaw in the girl. She didn’t have his skill. He should’ve beaten her that night.
    “You can beat her, yes. But don’t be fooled by her lack of confidence. Her talent exceeds anything you have faced. She is deadly, with or without training.”
    “Am I to go after her then? Kill her?” Seven hoped for the chance to fix his past mistake and prove to the Order and the Creator how far his skills had matured.
    “You are to track her. Monitor her. I must know if she is training and who is with her.”
    Seven expelled a deep sigh. He didn’t want to babysit the Assassin. He wanted to prove himself.
    “You understand your assignment, its importance.”
    It wasn’t a question.
    “Yes, Master. I will take care of it.”
    The Creator turned and walked away from Seven just as all thoughts of the girl subsided. He reached for the memories of her face, holding onto each image. He wouldn’t let his master down. Not again.
    Seven closed his eyes and focused on the task, silently fuming. A loud bang boomed through the recesses of his mind, followed by a rapid series of images. The girl and the boy. Fire burning all around him. Faint pictures of a childhood he never knew.